I am glad that I don’t make the policies around here. If that were the case, for a Letter to the Editor to make our pages, people would have to show proof that they tried to make a difference.
I love how many letters gripe and complain about how things are done. How people don’t do things the way others want them. What does Tyrone do about things in their community? Nothing.
Last night, we had a nice forum for the candidates for the Tyrone School Board, Tyrone Borough Council and Snyder Township Board of Supervisors.
The candidates had the opportunity to share their views with the voters.
In typical Tyrone fashion, seven people showed up and most of them were from Snyder Township.
These are the people who will decide how your children are educated. These are the people who will determine what kind of taxes you will pay and how the tax money is spent.
If you don’t like the direction your child’s education is taking or don’t like the amount of taxes you pay or how the tax money is spent, don’t write me.
These candidates took time to make sure they were well prepared to answer questions that were brought to them. You didn’t bother to take the time to show up.
Fasten your seat belts it is time for the tirade.
I don’t endorse candidates. I believe that is not the place of the newspaper to tell you who to vote for. After last night, I will suggest someone not to vote for. That is Mr. Letter to the Editor. Yes, you know who you are.
After a couple weeks of talking to him and finally, he said he was coming to the forum, what happens… he doesn’t show up. No phone call, no nothing.
This is the guy who made a request for a lectern for people to speak from. They got a lectern. He asked for a chance to go to the school and see the room and get “a lay of the land”. After going to the school on Tuesday, he stopped by the paper and told me he was impressed with the setting. For a guy who is campaigning on the memory of a friend who said do something or be quiet about it, sure is going about it the wrong way. If I was campaigning using the memory of a friend who inspired me, I would be talking to everyone I could talk to. Instead, I hide behind letters.
Try making a difference. That is what I try to do. We work hard to give you the news that is important to our community. Both Bob Miller and I volunteer to coach baseball for high school age kids in the summer. We have brought the scouts through the paper to help them get their communications badge. I talk to newspaper classes at Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis to explain what is involved in putting a paper together. None of this is making me a rich man, but I believe that it is making my community a better place.
I may disagree with some of the things that the politicians say and do, but they are trying to make a difference.
I gave you the opportunity to face voters… you didn’t take advantage of it. If you get a vote other than your own, that is one vote too many.
Viva La Revolution is your cry at the end of most of your letters. The most important thing about revolutions, you need someone to lead them. Maybe you could secede your Park Avenue abode from the Borough and become your own Island Nation. Get a spot on the United Nations Security Council which you won’t show up for. Create your own constitution and write letters to yourself.
Unless I am told from above, your letters stop now.
I take pride in this community and seriously consider who I am going to vote for as our leaders. If you don’t show for a chance to meet the voters and say your platform is your letter writing skills, hopefully the voters of Tyrone will see that as the sham that it is.
Complain, gripe and complain… that should be the motto of our small town. People do those things all the time, but won’t do a thing to fix anything. Tyrone has been here for 153 years. Lets change the name to Complainville or Do Nothingville.
Let’s hope that next week the turnout of the people in the community is stronger. This will be the only forum in which all Blair County Judges will be in attendance and the Blair County Commissioners candidates will be there. Take an evening and meet the people you are going elect to serve you.
